Turning Georgia clay into soil
ladybug_0820
11 years ago
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batyabeth
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Do you think this will work to turn blue clay into good soil?
Comments (4)Clay is good soil. Sand + clay makes brick or concrete. Clay that was 'dug out' is probably subsoil and not optimal for plant growth by itself. Layer it with organic matter and let it compost in place, to add the organic stuff necessary to make it into 'topsoil'. The upper layers of soil contain most of the organic matter and microbial life necessary for plant growth. The lower layers, which is probably what you have here, are usually deficient in these because it takes lots of time for that stuff to work its way down, and it can only go so far before it runs out of oxygen which comes from the air at the soil surface. Fresh manure will be good as it will have lots of fresh microbes in it and you're not planting right away. I'd do the layering in place. Clay is heavy and you don't want to have to move it, plus you disrupt the structure it's developing when you dig it up to move it. Structure is necessary for air and water to move through and that's the main problem with clay - air and water don't move well. So, skip the sand. Everything else on your list is good. Can you get horse bedding, or chicken bedding, or llama manure? Stables and chicken farms are often looking for ways to get rid of their used bedding and it's great soil amendment. Tree chips from arborists too, you might get for free and dumped in your yard. How thick? dunno. a few inches up to a foot or so. I'd put a layer of organic down first, to hopefully attract up any worms and such already in the soil. Then some clay on top, then some organic, etc. Plastic cover will help it cook but you need to make sure air gets in too. I don't know how long it will take in your climate....See MoreSoil amendments: clay soil, fully planted beds
Comments (16)My first garden was created 5 years ago...we took off the sod, amended with compost, tilled and planted and mulched. It was a nightmare. I probably needed 60 times more compost, and never could have afforded it. The following two years I hated working in the garden because it was such hard work with the clay and many plants didn't thrive. I replanted areas many times and each time I would add more compost/mulch, whatever I could get my hands on. I also added a soil conditioner that was very expensive but works like gypsum...breaks down clay. (Who knows, maybe it WAS gypsum with a bigger price tag.) It's 6 years later now and I have to tell you that the garden is just a delight to work in now. I plan to spread gypsum a couple of times each year and continue mulching the beds, but I'm sure I'll never have to do all that double-digging like I did before....just keep on piling on the stuff like everyone wrote above, and before you know it, your beds will be as you need them to be. I also highly recommend that you search out plants that LIKE clay, so that your plantings will be successful. I spent many, many dollars buying plants that needed more drainage than I had and would die...and I wondered why. Some of those plants might do ok for me now in the same garden, but I think it's important to plant things that actually LIKE the ground that they are in today. Good Luck!...See Moresand for clay soil?
Comments (9)When was the last time you had a good, reliable soil test done? What is your soils pH? What is the nutrient load in that soil? How well does that soil drain? How well does that soil retain mosture? What life is in your soil? Contact your Universtiy of Georgia USDA Cooperative Extension Service county office about having a good reliable soil test done and also dig in with these simple soil tests, 1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer you soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. to see what you do have for soil and what you need to do to make it better....See MoreWhich maple tree (that turns red in fall) in a clay soil
Comments (5)clay is NEVER an issue ... per se.. itself ... its how you plant in clay.. and how you water in clay ... see link.. specifically addressing clay soil ... and a bunch of other stuff ... https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub welcome to the forums ... is there any way you can find a tree farm within a nice fall car drive.. where you can GO SEE trees in fall color.. and then buy it then ... the link also discusses proper planting times.. and for your zone.. that is right now.. thru ground freeze .. or mid november ... btw.. whats a rustic zone ???? .. rural ... ??? .... its irrelevant imo ... either way ... whats the use of naming some trees you cant buy.. eh??? .... anyone know canadian mail order for trees .... does whispering whatever sell maples ... darren.. right???.. whispering.. whistling .. whatever.. lol.. probably worth a car trip even if they dont .... even if he doesnt do maple.. he might know who does .... http://www.whistlinggardens.ca/ ken...See Morewayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
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